Editorial: Immigration reform

Published 12:00 AM PST Jan 31, 2013

February 1, 2013

Immigration reform is the hot potato in DC now, but this is an issue that can’t just be kicked down the road.

Our KSBW Editorial Board believes this issue transcends the usual liberal/conservative jousting. The simplistic call to “just enforce the laws already on the books” is just poppycock. Immigration policy needs the attention of the here-and-now, not the hidebound analysis of our failure.

President Obama’s latest pitch this week is not largely different than the framework advanced by President Bush six years ago. There has to be some way to clear up our current mess and move forward in a precise way, with specific steps for qualification, consequences, and much stricter border security.

The fact is, in our region, legal aliens and illegal immigrants are literally doing the heavy lifting, especially in our ag and hospitality sectors. It would not only be preposterous, but disastrous, to imagine their all being picked up and bused out of the country.

One last point: to those who say illegal immigrants are just soaking up benefits here and taking away jobs – that’s bunk! None of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants here are languishing on long-term government welfare or extended unemployment benefits because they can’t qualify for either without documented citizenship and they are too busy working! They take the jobs that current American citizens just don’t want! Sensible and orderly immigration reform deserves bipartisan support and is needed now.

Copyright 2013 byKSBW.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.